Chinese success spurs club

A HONGKONG-based company is planning to extend the renting of office apartments together with country club facilities to Tianjin and Beijing after the success of its first Shanghai package.

Ms Nelly Song, general manager of the Shanghai Xian Da Country Club, said the company was keen on exploring the Chinese market in view of the opportunities provided by the recent economic boom on the mainland.

The company's new development in Shanghai sought to capitalise on the lack of office facilities for expatriates in the mainland, Ms Song said.

''The most important thing we found is there is a need to provide office and residential facilities for expatriates and we definitely see a great market in China at present,'' she said.

Ms Song said the initial reaction was not over-enthusiastic because the idea was too new to be popular.

''I think it is because the club is rather far away in Shanghai and it takes a little bit of time for us to make it well known.'' A joint venture between the Hilltop Country Club of Hongkong and Xingnan of Shanghai, the Shanghai Xian Da Country Club is targeted at both expatriates as well as Hongkong businessmen.

With a one-off entrance fee of US$102,000, each basic member will be entitled to a 600 square feet en suite accommodation suitable for both office and residential purposes available on a lease of 30 years.